High speed rail plans to be revealed in March
The plans for one of the biggest sources of future civil engineering jobs in the UK are to be revealed this March according to the Transport Secretary, Lord Adonis.
Plans for the future of high-speed rail in the UK are to be published in the spring of 2010. The announcement was made as Lord Adonis attended the launch of the country's first high speed line.
This week, for the first time in the UK, high speed trains are serving 22 towns and cities across Kent. This 5.8bn railway line was a source of many jobs in construction related to railway work during its development, and it seems certain that future expansions will provide further opportunities for recruitment in the sector.
Lord Adonis was optimistic but cautious about the future of high speed rail in Britain, and said that it was a much needed improvement to the country's national rail infrastructure.
"The potential for high speed rail to regenerate and reinvigorate is now a reality for people in Kent, but the size of Britain’s high speed network lags behind that of many of our European neighbours and doesn't connect any of our major cities" said Lord Adonis. "This month I expect to receive a report which has the potential change all that. This will require careful study and scrutiny - which will begin with immediate effect - before we can announce how we plan to take high speed rail forward in the Spring.”
Potentially, the plans could be a huge boost to construction recruitment across the UK. The spring 2010 report is said to be the most detailed examination of high speed rail in the UK to date, and will include a variety of construction options as well as plans for a London to West Midlands route. Among these are proposals to extend services and lines to the North west, North East, Scotland and the rest of the midlands.